How Does a Diesel Generator
Work?
A diesel powered generator is the combination of a diesel engine and an alternator or electric generator
to generate electrical energy. Here the alternator is the generator which
generates the electric power and engine is used to rotate the electric
generator. Diesel generators are mostly used as an emergency power supply.
1. Working Principle
Diesel Generator works
in four cycles:
Suction/Intake
Compression
Power
Exhaust
The working principle of
a diesel generator is based on the law of Energy conversion i.e. “Energy can
neither be created nor be destroyed but be only converted from one form to another
form.” Since diesel has chemical energy, during combustion the chemical energy
is converted into heat and force. This force is known as mechanical energy
which helps in rotating the alternator. The combustion process in a diesel
engine is commenced by spontaneous ignition of the fuel when it is injected
into a highly compressed charge of air which has reached approx. 750 degrees
Celsius.
Suction Stroke
Here the piston moves
down from the top dead centre due to which the inlet valve opens, and the air is
drawn into the cylinder. After drawing enough air with pressure, the suction
valve gets closed at the end of the stroke.
Compression Stroke
During this stroke, the
piston moves upwards from the bottom dead centre. The air drawn into the
cylinder gets trapped inside the cylinder and compressed because of the upward
movement of the piston. In diesel generators, since the compression ratio used
is very high, the air is compressed to a very high pressure, up to 40kg/cm
squared. The temperature of the air is very high at this pressure which is
enough to ignite the fuel.
Power Stroke
The fuel is injected
into the hot compressed air and it starts burning and maintains the pressure.
When the piston reaches the top dead centre the supply of fuel turns off. The
injection of the fuel at the end of compression stroke continues till the
cut-off point. Both the inlet and exhaust valve remain closed and the hot gases
and compressed air now expand in the cylinder which causes the piston to move
down and it finally reaches the bottom dead center.
Exhaust Stroke
During this stroke, the
piston again moves upward, and the exhaust valve opens. The inlet and fuel valve
are closed. Most of the burnt fuel gases escape due to their own expansion. The
remaining gases are pushed out by the upward movement of the piston through the
exhaust valve. At the end of this stroke, the exhaust valve closes, and the
cycle is completed.
Diesel Generator Parts
The following are the
main components of a Diesel Generator:
Engine
Alternator
Fuel System
Governor
Voltage Regulator
Cooling and Exhaust
Systems
Lubrication System
Flywheel
Control Panel
Comments
Post a Comment